Apparatus for treatment of skin lesions

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for treatment of skin lesions comprising a housing having a blower therein for producing and directing a stream of air through conduits or hoses to an air distributor. A yieldable pad having an opening therethrough is positioned upon the air distributor and is engaged by a patient sitting or lying thereon so that the opening in the pad circumscribes that surface area of the patients body to be treated. Air is continuously directed over that surface of the patient to be treated and this air treatment serves to accelerate healing of skin lesions such as bedsores and the like.

United States Patent [1 1 Buker APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF SKIN LESIONS [76] Inventor: Vernon W. Buker, 514 N. State,

Waseca, Minn. 56093 [22] Filed: Jan. 16, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 433,843

[52] US. Cl 128/401, 128/184, 128/256, 128/172.1 [51] Int. Cl. A6lf 7/12 [58] Field of Search 128/256, 38-40, 128/184, 257, 401, 260, 272, 154, 132 R, 172.1, 266

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,913,833 11/1959 Glintz 34/97 3,288,140 11/1966 McCarthy 128/260 XR [4 1 Feb. 18,1975

Peplin 128/266 Rich 128/184 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Williamson, Bains & Moore [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for treatment of skin lesions comprising a housing having a blower therein for producing and directing a stream of air through conduits or hoses to an air distributor. A yieldable pad having an opening therethrough is positioned upon the air distributor and is engaged by a patient sitting or lying thereon so that I the opening in the pad circumscribes that surface area of the patients body to be treated. Air is continuously directed over that surface of the patient to be treated and this air treatment serves to accelerate healing of skin lesions such as bedsores and the like.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF SKIN LESIONS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for use in treating skin lesions such as bed sores of a non-ambulatory patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the problems experienced by non-ambulatory patients such as those confined to beds or wheelchairs, is the occurrence of skin lesions such as bedsores and the like. Although these skin lesions can be treated, treatment is difficult since such patients often have little, if any voluntary control over their body. These bedsores also tend to spread rapidly and when the lesion enlarges it is difficult to effectively treat.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus for treating non-ambulatory patients suffering from skin lesions such as bedsores and the like. The apparatus comprising the invention is operable to continuously direct a stream of air, preferably cooled, over that specific area of the patients body to be treated.

More specifically, the apparatus includes a blower chamber having a fan therein which produces a stream of air that is directed through conduit means for discharge through an air distributor. The air discharged from the air distributor is directed into an opening in a yieldable pad which is engaged by a patient lying or setting thereon. The opening in the pad circumscribes that area of the patients body to be treated so that the lesion is constantly subjected to a stream of air. This controlled stream of air, which is preferably cooled, speeds and accelerates the healing of the lesion.

FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, it will be noted that one embodiment of the novel treatment apparatus, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is there 7 shown. The treatment apparatus 10 includes a generally rectangular shaped housing 11 comprised of substantially flat, generally rectangular shaped vertically extending side walls 12, a bottom wall 13, and a sub- I stantially flat removable top wall 14. The housing 11 is provided with suitable rollers or casters to facilitate movement of the housing from one location to another. The interior of the housing is compartmented and defines an inlet chamber 11a and a blower or fan chamber 11b, these chambers being separated by a transverse substantially flat partition or wall 110. It will also be noted that one side wall 12 of the housing has an opening therein which is closed by an access door 15. It will be noted that the access door 15 is hingedly mounted on the associated side wall 12 and permits access to both the inlet chamber 11a and the blower chamber 11b.

One of the side walls 12 of the housing has an inlet opening 16 therein which communicates with the inlet chamber 11a. A screen 16a spans the inlet opening 16 in the side wall of the housing and, in the embodiments shown, is actually mounted on the inner surface of the side wall 12 having the inlet opening therein. A filter 17 is mounted interiorly of the inlet chamber and also is positioned against that side wall 12 having the inlet opening 16 therein so that the filter spans the inlet opening. With this arrangement, any air flowing through the inlet opening will be effectively filetered as it passes through the filter- 17.

The inlet chamber 11a also has a. refrigeration unit 18 therein which includes conventional refrigeration components such as a compressor, evaporator, and heat exchanger component. This refrigeration unit 18 may be selectively operated or may be rendered inoperative as desired by a user.

The partition 11c has an opening 19 therein which serves to intercommunicate with the inlet chamber 11a and the blower chamber 11b. A squirrel cage type blower 20 is mounted in the blower chamber 11, the blower including a blower housing 200 having a fan therein which is driven by an electric motor 21. The blower is provided with an outlet 20b and an inlet (not shown). The motor 21 is positioned exteriorly of the housing and is provided with suitable sound insulation to dampen the sound produced thereby. In this respect, the interior of the housing defining the blower chamber 11b will also be provided with suitable sound insulation to minimize the occurrence of any noise produced by operation of the apparatus.

The blower chamber 11b also has an ultraviolet germicidal lamp 22 mounted therein closely adjacent the outlet 20b of the blower housing 20a. The ultraviolet germicidal lamp actually includes a socket which is mounted interiorly of the blower chamber by suitable brackets, the lamp being connected by electrical conductors to the circuit of the electric motor 21. The circuit for the electric motor 21 for controlling the blower 20 includes a switch 23 mounted on one of the side walls 12 adjacent the upper end thereof. A refrigeration unit control switch 24 is also mounted closely ad jacent the blower switch 23 to permit the refrigeration unit 18 to be selectively energized or de-energized as desired. The circuitry for a refrigeration unit and the circuitry for the electric motor 21 for the blower are connected by suitable electrical conductors to a source of electrical current. In this respect, the electrical conductors for the fan motor and refrigeration unit circuits are contained within a cable 26 connected to an electric bayonet-type plug 27. The electric bayonet-type plug 27 may be connected to any conventional wall outlet such as that shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

One of the side walls 12 of the housing 11 has a plurality of openings therein and in the embodiments shown, two such openings 16b are provided, each communicating with the blower chamber 11b. These openings 16b constitute outlet openings for the blower chamber 11b and each has one end of a coupling of an elongate flexible hose 25 connected thereto. The other end of each hose is connected to one of a pair of air distributors 28. In the embodiments shown, each air distributor is of hollow generally rectangular shaped rigid construction comprised of opposed panels or walls 280 which are spaced apart, but which are sealingly and fixedly connected adjacent their peripheries so that a chamber 28b is defined therebetween.

The connection between each air distributor 28 and the associated hose or conduit 25 constitutes the inlet of the distributor 28 and the upper of the panels 28b has a plurality of apertures 29 therein throughout substantially the major portion of the surface thereof. These apertures intercommtmicate the interior 28b of each air distributor with the exterior. Thus, when the air is directed from the blower chamber 11b through the conduits 25 into the air distributors 28, air will be discharged through the apertures 29. It is pointed out that the apparatus may be used with a single air distributor in most cases. Therefore, when a single air distributor isused, it will be necessary to merely disconnect the coupling of one of the hoses from its outlet 16b of the blower chamber'llb. Although not shown, a suitable closure member will be provided for closing the unused-outlet opening 16b for the blower chamber 11b.

, Each air distributor 28 is preferably of a size substantially less than the average size of the dorsal area of a patients torso. However, it is pointed out that the air distributors may beconstructed of any suitable size and shape.

A generally rectangular shaped pad or member 30 of predetermined thickness is positioned upon the air distributor 28 and this pad is adapted to be engaged by a patient lying or sitting thereon. The pad 30 is preferably formed of a yieldable, resilient material, such as foam rubber, and is preferably air impervious so that air will not pass therethrough. The pad 30 is provided with an opening 31 therethrough, and this opening 31 may be of circular configuration. The thickness dimension of the pad 30 is sufficient so that when a patient is lying or sitting upon the pad, and even though the pad is compressed, the opening 31 will actually define a chamber or space which is confined by the air distributor-and by the patients body. The opening 31 will preferably be of a size which is only slightly larger than the area of the skin lesion so that the opening circumscribes the skin lesion.

A cover pad 32 may be provided, the cover pad 32 being formed of an air pervious material, preferably fibrous and preferably water impervious, suitable plastic material such as Kodell. The pad 32 is also provided with an opening 33 therethrough which corresponds generally in shape and size to the opening 31. In this respect, the opening 33 is preferably slightly larger than the opening 32. It is also pointed out that the pad 32 would correspond in size and shape to the supporting pad 30 which in turn is preferably larger than the air distributor 28. With this arrangement, it will be seen that air will be distributed from the air distributor into the opening 31 and continuously over the selected surface area portion of the patient to be treated.

In the embodiments shown, one of the pads 30 has a pair of openings therein while the other pad has a single opening therein. The pad containing the pair of openings is adapted for use in applying air directly to the heels or to the dorsal surfaces of a patients legs. It is also pointed out that when additional air distributors and pads are desired, each or one of the hoses or conduits 25 may be provided with a suitable type coupler to permit a single hose to supply air to one or more air distributors.

In use, the apparatus will be connected to a source of electrical current and the switch 33 will be switched to the closed position thereby energizing the motor 21 and the germicidal lamp 22. The air will be induced through the inlet opening 16 and to the inlet chamber lla through the opening l9'and into the blower chamber 11b.v The air will then be directed outwardly through the hose or hoses 25 and intothe air distributor 28. The air will be discharged from the air distributor through the apertures 29 and impelled directly into the opening 31 in the pad 30. Since-the patient is lying upon the pad, andsince the opening 31 circumscribes the air to be treated, the skin lesion will be continuously subjected to adry, preferably cool stream of air. It has been found that when a skin lesion is maintained in a dry,'preferably-cool condition, the healing process is accelerated. If it is desirable to cool the air, it is only necessary to close the switch 24 to thereby energize the refrigeration unit so that the stream of air iscooled as it passes through the housing 11. Although not shown in the drawing, a suitable thermostat may also be provided for controlling the temperature of the cooled air as it passes through the inlet chamber 11a. The thermostat circuit would be electrically connected in controlling relation with respect to the circuit for the refrigeration unit 18. I 7

With this arrangement, the patient suffering from bedsores or skin ulcers can be effectively treated by specifically directing a stream of air to selected surface area of the patients body. This minimizes overcooling the patient while assuring that the affected area is in a dried cooled condition.

This particular apparatus has special utility in hospitals, nursing homes and similar institutions which contain many non-ambulatory patients. The present apparatus is also adaptable for use with patients confined to wheelchairs since these patients also readily develop skin lesions.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a novel treatment apparatus which is highly effective in treating skin lesions such as bedsores and the like. The treatment apparatus is especially adapted for maintaining affected areas in a dried, preferably cooled condition which is generally'the optimum condition for healing.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a novel treatment apparatus which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction and operation, but one which functions in a more efficient way than any heretofore known comparable structure.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for use in treating skin lesions such as bedsores of non-ambulatory patients, comprising:

a housing having a blower chamber therein, an inlet and an outlet opening in said housing communicating with said blower chamber, a blower mechanism in said chamber for producing and causing a stream of air to flow through said inlet into said blower chamber and through said outlet, an air pervious filter extending across said inlet opening for removing air entrained particles from the stream of air,

elongate flexible conduit means connected in communicating relation with said outlet,

a pad formed of flexible, yieldable material presenting a support surface for a portion of the body of the person lying thereon, and having an opening therein corresponding to a small surface area portion of the body of the person to be treated, said pad having a thickness dimension of predetermined magnitude so that said opening therein defines a vided with a plurality of apertures therein, said pad engaging said upper wall member of said distributor structure so that certain of said apertures therein discharge air directly into the opening in the pad.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and means for cooling the air prior to the discharge thereof into said conduit means.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and an ultraviolet lamp in said blower chamber adjacent the discharge outlet therein. 

1. An apparatus for use in treating skin lesions such as bedsores of non-ambulatory patients, comprising: a housing having a blower chamber therein, an inlet and an outlet opening in said housing communicating with said blower chamber, a blower mechanism in said chamber for producing and causing a stream of air to flow through said inlet into said blower chamber and through said outlet, an air pervious filter extending across said inlet opening for removing air entrained particles from the stream of air, elongate flexible conduit means connected in communicating relation with said outlet, a pad formed of flexible, yieldable material presenting a support surface for a portion of the body of the person lying thereon, and having an opening therein corresponding to a small surface area portion of the body of the person to be treated, said pad having a thickness dimension of predetermined magnitude so that said opening therein defines a flow chamber when a patient is positioned upon the pad, air distribution means connected with said conduit means and directing air into the flow distributing chamber defined by the opening in said pad, whereby a stream of cooled air will be directed against that specific body portion of the patient circumscribed by said opening.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said air distributing means comprises a substantially flat, hollow structure having an upper wall member provided with a plurality of apertures therein, said pad engaging said upper wall member of said distributor structure so that certain of said apertures therein discharge air directly into the opening in the pad.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and means for cooling the air prior to the discharge thereof into said conduit means.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and an ultraviolet lamp in said blower chamber adjacent the discharge outlet therein. 